Ba Be Lake, in the core of Ba Be National Park, has a special configuration surrounded by cliffs with very original and attractive forms and shapes. The lake is filled with 3 rivers flows; help it remain always emerald water. You are going to join in one day trek to the villages of Dzao and H’mong people and another full day kayaking to discover the beauty of the lake. The physical level widely suits many.

Tour Highlights

Awesome multi activities adventure that suits most of hikers and kayakers

Trekking into remote villages at Ba Be park that are nearly touched by tourists

Kayaking in Babe lake - a huge, calm, emerald water of a biggest natural lake in North Vietnam

Homestay in village at local ethnic house

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Babe Lake

Day 2: Trekking to surrounding villages and homestay

Day 3: Kayaking to Puong Cave, Boc Luom Dock. Homestay

Day 4: Boat cruise and transfer back to Hanoi

Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be Lake – Po Lu Village

In the morning, ActiveTravel Asia’s adventure guide picks you up from hotel for transfer to Ba Be National Park. Ba Be Lake is our Natural World Heritage Site which also called “Halong Bay on mountain” because of its rather similar geographic feature to Halong – limestone and water.

We have a stop for refreshment in Thai Nguyen and quick visit to Thai Nguyen Museum of ethnology to learn about different ethnic minorities in northern Vietnam. Continue to Ba Be after lunch. We will drive to remote, quietly located in the park - Po Lu village then settle for dinner and overnight in local house.

Summary

Transfer Hanoi – Babe: 240Km northwest of Hanoi (6 hrs)

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Day 2: Trekking to surrounding villages

Enjoy home-made breakfast and start our trekking day. Hop on motorbikes for beautiful, short ride to reach trekking point where we begin a day trek to villages of Tay ethnic minorities. We may across a small but lovely stream on the way.
Keep further walk to a Tay village where we stop for a break and pinnic lunch. Enjoy hiking through the forest through mountains and valleys where you will see beautiful stilt houses of original designs and materials and following a nice road along the lake and witnessing local ethnics trading their home-made products.

Turn back to Po Lu and free time the rest of the day. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

Summary

Trekking: 18 – 22 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Day 3: An Ma Island – Puong Cave - Dau Dang Waterfall

Breakfast at the homestay. In order to get to kayaking place, we have to transfer by motor bike to jungle entrance, hiking through dense woods, reach to a bridge to An Ma island, here you start a day of kayaking.

Your kayaks paddle to Puong Cave, a huge natural tunnel through mountain. Continue to Dau Dang Waterfall where we will have a picnic lunch under a beautiful natural setting and the sound of water pouring down. Take time to enjoy the surrounding before sailing back to Ba Be Lake then ride back to Po Lu village in late afternoon. Dinner and stay overnight at homestay.

Summary

Kayaking: 5 hrs

Trekking: 8 - 10km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Day 4: Po Lu Village – Hanoi

We leave this morning at free for enjoying breakfast and saying goodbye to our kind-hearted, warm hosts. Taking a short boat ride to the National Park dock where our vehicle with driver is await. Drive to Hanoi with lunch served on the way. Back to Hanoi around 05pm. Trip completes.

Summary

Transfer Babe - Hanoi: 240Km (6 hrs)

Boat cruise: 15 mins

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Note on client safety

- The maximum weight per kayak is 150kg (330lb) for double (no single available in Ba Be). Passengers are requested to inform your weight upon confirmation.
- We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including weather conditions or for any other factor which may influence client safety.

All tours are private. No joined-in, customized. No fixed dates. (except Amazing Thailand on Motorbike)You can customize to pick one or some most favorite sections.The price - if not customized - is fixed. No hidden cost, no surprised.We are full licensed operator and only work with similar legal status partners. It's adventurous, not riskyMany discounts available from May to Sep. Minimum surcharges on peak days (Xmas, New Year etc)Still questions?! Please contact usor email: info@activetravel.asia

Trekking grade: Introductory Grade that means this trekking tour involves 2-3 hours of active, physical-required activities per day at a slow but steady pace. Your track trails are predominately on good conditions and tracks and might include some easy pass crossings such as a mix of quiet paved roads, forestry tracks and easy double tracks.

Your muscles are going to relatively tense sometimes, especially for adventurous newcomers however there are some relax intervals helping you back to the phase. You should have an average level of fitness. No special notices required.

* Suggested preparation: having good routines of exercises, active lifestyle with physical-related activities, 2-3 times per week.

Who suits: Great for newcomers to active travel.

Activity: 2-3 hours most days

Distances: Hike average 5 miles (8km), cycle 10-20 miles (or 16 – 32km) most days

Surfaces: flat or rolling terrain with some possible steeps

Elevation change: up to 2,000 ft/day (about 600m)

Altitude: up to 4,000 ft (about 1200m)

Meals and food

- Day 1: Lunch, Dinner
- Day 2-3: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch
All meals, which are indicated in the itinerary, are included in the price of this trip. Since we travel away from big towns our meals are mainly dominated by local foods. Please inform us if you have any special dietary requirement.

The homestayHome stay in the village is simple in term of bedding condition and amenities. We will sleep on beds with mattress, clean sheet, pillows and mosquito nets. Toilet is usually western style.

ATA tour guide
The tour will be guided by one of our tour guides who are experienced in guiding kayaking tours in Vietnam. He has been carefully trained in this field and is fully licensed in tour guiding by the government. In addition, he has been trained in first-aid by SOS International and he knows how to deal with difficult situations. You will have a great time traveling with him.

The kayakOn this trip we use mainly sit-on-top, double kayak. Paddle, life-jacket and dry bag are available. ++ Important note: The maximum weight per kayak is 150kg (330lb) for double (no single kayak avail). For your utmost comfort, we recommend customers from 125kg (275lb) should not take kayaking tours. If you are unsure anything, we strongly encourage to contact us for more detailed information.

The kayaking day
A typical kayaking day starts at about 8.30 am after breakfast. Lunch will be served on support boat or at a beautiful spot depending on the weather. At the end of a kayaking day, we would return to the homestay around 4.30pm.

Note on client safety We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including weather conditions or for any other factor which may influence client safety.